FASTWAY COURIERSTHE WHOLE PACKAGE

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With the rapid growth of online shopping and expansion in both national and international markets, the Fastway Couriers franchise really delivers

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Roger & Denise Gore, Fastway Couriers 'We have absolutely no regrets'

Roger receiving the Regional Franchise of the Year award from Fastway CEO Scott Jenyns

It’s December 23rd and you’re driving round the local mall carpark, wondering if it’s really worth the 20 minutes you’ll have to wait to find a space. Once inside, you’re only going to have to fight the crowds and queue for another half an hour to make a purchase. If only you’d bought gifts online like so many other people, Fastway Couriers could have delivered Christmas to your door.

‘Here at Fastway, with international pick-ups and deliveries, Christmas starts in October these days,’ Roger Gore explains. Four years prior to purchasing the Taranaki regional franchise in June 2017, Roger operated the regional depot, supporting eight local Courier Franchisees as general manager. In April 2017, he led the Taranaki team to win the Regional Franchise of the Year award at the company’s Annual Excellence Awards before he and wife Denise decided to purchase the business a couple of months later.

New Zealand-founded Fastway Couriers is an award-winning brand on both sides of the Tasman, with a global network that extends to Australia, Ireland, Northern Ireland and South Africa. Regional Franchisees are business-minded with good communication and sales skills, while Courier Franchisees are fit, active and have a can-do attitude to meeting customer needs and building loyalty.

‘You just need to believe in the service you’re selling,’ Roger says. ‘With the boom in online shopping, all those packages have to be delivered somehow. We have big clients both nationally and internationally, and we’re looking at retail expansion to make it even easier for the general public to access efficient shipping solutions.’

Over 31 years of marriage, Roger and Denise have lived all over the North Island while raising 3 children. Their combined résumé includes ownership of three Cobb & Co. restaurants, a hotel in Napier, and Roger’s 10 years with Goodman Fielder as sales manager and 5 years with Gould’s Fine Foods as national sales manager. ‘We’ve had both good and bad experiences in business and learned what to look out for,’ Roger says.

‘The previous owner of Fastway Taranaki was a friend of mine. He brought me in to run the place when he knew we were looking at moving back to the region so I knew the business inside and out. That made it an easy decision to purchase the franchise a few years later – I knew the processes, had experienced how good the ongoing support was and had confidence in the Fastway Couriers brand.

‘It helps that Fastway Couriers are transparent with their franchisees – nothing is hidden. We had a good history with our bank so once we decided to jump in, we got a loan. Of course, our lawyer checked over the paperwork, but I already had an open and honest relationship with the franchise so we felt confident. Now we look forward to monthly visits from the franchise support team to review progress, make plans and sort out any little issues. Communication is a two-way street: our operations manager calls every Friday to check in, and there’s always someone on the phone if we need anything during the week.

‘The main difference from before is that it’s us paying the bills,’ Roger says, ‘but with financial responsibility come the rewards of a successful business. The Taranaki franchise has seen a 22 percent growth in my time here, with 6 percent of that being since we took ownership, and we’re not afraid to keep costs under control by getting our hands dirty.’

Denise handles the administration work, allowing Roger to manage sales, while they have four employees. ‘Our middle daughter Jamie has just started working with us; she’s already taken over some of the administration tasks, and it’s a good opportunity for her to learn sales skills too. We don’t know whether she’ll take over the business herself eventually, but getting this experience with a company as good as Fastway is helping her build something for the future.’

In addition to having Courier Franchise opportunities nationwide, Fastway Couriers also has several Regional Franchise territories available for experienced managers with business nous in Northland, Southland and Gisborne. Investment levels vary.

Roger and Denise attribute the success of their business to Fastway’s reputation and systems, an ever-growing market and, of course, to their own hard work and leadership. ‘I’ve tried to bring a family culture into the team, working together with individual Courier Franchisees to ignite their passion for the job. We’re all involved in decision-making, so nobody feels like just a number, and, in turn, our local drivers treat each customer individually to provide the best possible service.’

Four months on from making the transition from employee to franchisee, Roger couldn’t be happier. ‘We have absolutely no regrets. Knowing we have a good franchise with proven systems in place and room for good growth really takes the fear factor away from owning your own business.’